Premier Jiang Yi-huah this afternoon approved a plan by the Ministry of Labor (MOL) to raise the minimum wage next year, said Executive Yuan Spokesperson Sun Lih-chyun.
Starting July 1, 2015, the minimum monthly wage will be increased by NT$735 (US$24.50) or 3.81 percent to NT$20,008 (US$666.93). The minimum hourly wage will be raised at a similar rate by NT$5 (US$0.17) to NT$120 (US$4.00). These hikes are expected to benefit some 2.32 million domestic and foreign workers.
During an August 15 meeting with labor groups, Jiang said that the government is well aware of the economic pressures that sharply rising food prices are putting on the public, especially on entry-level workers. In the first seven months of the year, average food prices had risen 3.82 percent compared with the same period last year. The premier then instructed the MOL to reconsider a resolution by the Basic Wage Deliberation Committee to meet only if the consumer price index tops 3 percent.
Accordingly, the MOL convened committee meetings on August 25 and 29 where representatives of labor, employers, government and academia were able to reach a consensus on minimum wage adjustments for 2015. The committee also agreed to set up a task force within three months, and to hold quarterly meetings to deliberate on matters relating to minimum wages.
"Taking care of workers and advancing labor rights and welfare is a central policy of the administration because workers are irreplaceable in the nation's economic and social development. The Executive Yuan welcomes any efforts to make minimum wage adjustments more systematic in the future." Sun said.